Compare towns
Hingham vs Marshfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hingham | Marshfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,283Lowest |
25,879Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hingham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marshfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hingham | Marshfield | Reading |
| High school in town | Hingham High | Marshfield High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.